Automotive wheel anti-skid mechanism

Claim 2

In an automotive wheel anti-skid mechanism for a hydraulically operated automotive wheel brake assembly having a hydraulic brake pressure source, at least one hydraulic brake actuating cylinder for a vehicle wheel, a conduit communicating said pressure source with said brake actuating cylinder, and a skid-sensor for creating a signal in response to sensing an impending vehicle skid condition, said anti-skid mechanism including a pressure modulator means connected in said hydraulic conduit between said brake pressure source and said wheel brake actuating cylinder, said modulator means including a first hydraulic chamber in communication with said wheel brake actuating cylinder, a second hydraulic chamber in communication with said brake pressure source, a volume varying means slidably positioned in said first hydraulic chamber, a valve means located in said second hydraulic chamber for blocking the flow of hydraulic fluid from said second hydraulic chamber to said first hydraulic chamber, a first biasing means for biasing said valve means to its closed position, wherein the improvement comprises, cover means sealingly attached to said modulator means and defining a pneumatically sealed cavity means therein, a first diaphragm means and a second diaphragm means defining a first and a second chamber, respectively, within said cavity means, a first rigid abutting means positioned against said first diaphragm means, a second rigid abutting means attached to said second diaphragm means, said first rigid abutting means being operatively connected with said volume varying means, a rod member operaTively connected with said second rigid abutting means and adapted for cooperation with said valve means, said second diaphragm means operatively connected with said valve means, a second biasing means for holding said valve means in an open position by said rod member, a third biasing means positioned in said first chamber and applying a biasing force against said first rigid abutting means, the biasing force of said third biasing means being greater than the biasing force of said second biasing means, said first diaphragm means and said first rigid abutting means in conjunction with said third biasing means forming a first pneumatically operated servo means, said second diaphragm means and said second biasing means forming a second pneumatically operated servo means, a pneumatic vacuum source, means for communicating said vacuum source with said first and second chambers, a signal actuated valve means controlled by said skid sensor and connected in said communication means between said vacuum source and said second chamber, said signal actuated valve means selectively applying vacuum to said second chamber when no signal is received from said skid sensor and applying ambient atmospheric pressure to said second chamber upon the receipt of a signal from said skid sensor, whereby, when said hydraulic pressure source is actuated to apply braking pressure to the vehicle wheel brakes, upon the skid sensor sensing an impending skid condition, a signal is sent to said signal actuated valve to apply ambient atmospheric pressure to said second chamber to overcome the second biasing force and actuate said second servo means for blocking the application of hydraulic pressure from said hydraulic pressure source to said wheel brake actuating cylinder and subsequently overcome the greater third biasing force and actuate said first servo means for varying the volume of said first hydraulic chamber to allow a decrease of hydraulic pressure being applied to said wheel brake cylinder.

Claim 3

In an automotive wheel anti-skid mechanism for a hydraulically operated automotive wheel brake assembly having a hydraulic brake pressure source, at least one hydraulic brake actuating cylinder for a vehicle wheel, a conduit communicating said pressure source with said brake actuating cylinder, and a skid sensor for creating a signal in response to sensing an impending vehicle skid condition, said anti-skid mechanism including a pressure modulator means connected in said hydraulic conduit between said brake pressure source and said wheel brake actuating cylinder, said modulator means including a first hydraulic chamber in communication with said wheel brake actuating cylinder, a second hydraulic chamber in communication with said brake pressure source, a volume varying means slidably positioned in said first hydraulic chamber, a valve means located in said second hydraulic chamber for blocking the flow of hydraulic fluid from said second hydraulic chamber to said first hydraulic chamber, a first biasing means for biasing said valve means to its closed position, wherein the improvement comprises, cover means sealingly attached to said modulator means and defining a pneumatically sealed cavity means therein, a first diaphragm means and a second diaphragm means defining a first and a second chamber, respectively, within said cavity means, a first rigid abutting means positioned against said first diaphragm means, a second rigid abutting means attached to said second diaphragm means, said first rigid abutting means being operatively connected with said volume varying means, a rod member operatively connected with said second rigid abutting means and adapted for cooperation with said valve means, said second diaphragm means operatively connected with said valve means, a second biasing means positioned between said first rigid abutting means and said second diaphragm means for applying a force to said second diaphragm means for holding said valve means in an open position, a third biasing means positioned in said firSt chamber and applying a biasing force against said first rigid abutting means, the biasing force of said third biasing means being greater than the biasing force of said second biasing means, said first diaphragm means and said first rigid abutting means in conjunction with said third biasing means forming a first pneumatically operated servo means, said second diaphragm means and said second biasing means forming a second pneumatically operated servo means, a pneumatic vacuum source, means for communicating said vacuum source with said first and second chambers, a signal actuated valve means controlled by said skid sensor and connected in said communication means between said vacuum source and said second chamber, said signal actuated valve means selectively applying vacuum to said second chamber when no signal is received from said skid sensor and applying ambient atmospheric pressure to said second chamber upon the receipt of a signal from said skid sensor, whereby, when said hydraulic pressure source is actuated to apply braking pressure to the vehicle wheel brakes, upon the skid sensor sensing an impending skid condition, a signal is sent to said signal actuated valve to apply ambient atmospheric pressure to said second cahmber to overcome the second biasing force and actuate said second servo means for blocking the application of hydraulic pressure from said hydraulic pressure source to said wheel brake actuating cylinder and subsequently overcome the greater third biasing force and actuate said first servo means for varying the volume of said first hydraulic chamber to allow a decrease of hydraulic pressure being applied to said wheel brake cylinder.

Claim 4

In an automotive wheel anti-skid mechanism for a hydraulically operated automotive wheel brake assembly having a hydraulic brake pressure source, at least one hydraulic brake actuating cylinder for a vehicle wheel, a conduit communicating said pressure source with said brake actuating cylinder, and a skid sensor for creating a signal in response to sensing an impending vehicle skid condition, said anti-skid mechanism including a pressure modulator means connected in said hydraulic conduit between said brake pressure source and said wheel brake actuating cylinder, said modulator means including a first hydraulic chamber in communication with said wheel brake actuating cylinder, a second hydraulic chamber in communication with said brake pressure source, a volume varying means slidably positioned in said first hydraulic chamber, a valve means located in said second hydraulic chamber for blocking the flow of hydraulic fluid from said second hydraulic chamber to said first hydraulic chamber, a first biasing means for biasing said valve means to its closed position, wherein the improvement comprises, cover means sealingly attached to said modulator means and defining a pneumatically sealed cavity means therein, a first diaphragm means and a second diaphragm means defining a first and a second chamber, respectively, within said cavity means, a first rigid abutting means positioned against said first diaphragm means, a second rigid abutting means attached to said second diaphragm means, said first rigid abutting means being operatively connected with said volume varying means, a rod member operatively connected with said second rigid abutting means and adapted for cooperation with said valve means, said second diaphragm means operatively connected with said valve means, a second biasing means positioned between said first rigid abutting means and said second diaphragm means for applying a force to said second diaphragm means for holding said valve means in an open position, a third biasing means positioned in said firSt chamber and applying a biasing force against said first rigid abutting means, the biasing force of said third biasing means being greater than the biasing force of said second biasing means, said first diaphragm means and said first rigid abutting means in conjunction with said third biasing means forming a first pneumatically operated servo means, said second diaphragm means and said second biasing means forming a second pneumatically operated servo means, a pneumatic vacuum source, means for communicating said vacuum source with said first and second chambers, a signal actuated valve means controlled by said skid sensor and connected in said communication means between said vacuum source and said second chamber, said signal actuated valve means selectively applying vacuum to said second chamber when no signal is received from said skid sensor and applying ambient atmospheric pressure to said second chamber upon the receipt of a signal from said skid sensor, whereby, when said hydraulic pressure source is actuated to apply braking pressure to the vehicle wheel brakes, upon the skid sensor sensing an impending skid condition, a signal is sent to said signal actuated valve to apply ambient atmospheric pressure to said second cahmber to overcome the second biasing force and actuate said second servo means for blocking the application of hydraulic pressure from said hydraulic pressure source to said wheel brake actuating cylinder and subsequently overcome the greater third biasing force and actuate said first servo means for varying the volume of said first hydraulic chamber to allow a decrease of hydraulic pressure being applied to said wheel brake cylinder.

Claim 5

In an automotive wheel anti-skid mechanism for a hydraulically operated automotive wheel brake assembly having a hydraulic brake pressure source, at least one hydraulic brake actuating cylinder for a vehicle wheel, a conduit communicating said pressure source with said brake actuating cylinder, and a skid sensor for creating a signal in response to sensing an impending vehicle skid condition, said anti-skid mechanism including a pressure modulator means connected in said hydraulic conduit between said brake pressure source and said wheel brake actuating cylinder, said modulator means including a first hydraulic chamber in communication with said wheel brake actuating cylinder, and an intermediate hydraulic chamber in communication with said brake pressure source, a volume varying means slidably positioned in said first hydraulic chamber, a valve means located in said intermediate hydraulic chamber for blocking the flow of hydraulic fluid from said intermediate hydraulic chamber to said first hydraulic chamber, a first biasing means for biasing said valve means to its closed position, wherein the improvement comprises, a cover member sealingly attached to one end of said modulator means and defining a pneumatically sealed cavity therein, an outer diaphragm means and an inner diaphragm means defining a first and second chamber within said cavity, a rigid abutting means positioned against said outer and inner diaphragm means, said rigid abutting means operatively connected with said volume varying means, said inner diaphragm means operatively connected with said valve means, a second biasing means positioned between said rigid abutting means and said inner diaphragm means for applying a force to said inner diaphragm means for holding said valve means in an open position, a third biasing means positioned in said first chamber and applying a biasing force against said rigid abutting means, the biasing force of said third biasing means being greater than the biasing force of said second biasing means, said outer diaphragm means and said rigid abutting means in conjunction with said third biasing means forming a first pneumatically operated servo means, said inner diaphragm means and said second biasing means forming a second pneumatically operated servo means, a pneumatic vacuum source, means for communicating said vacuum sourCe with said first and second chambers, a signal actuated valve means controlled by said skid sensor and connected in said communication means between said vacuum source and said second chamber, said signal actuated valve means selectively applying vacuum to said second chamber when no signal is received from said skid sensor and applying ambient atmospheric pressure to said second chamber upon the receipt of a signal from said skid sensor, whereby, when said hydraulic pressure source is actuated to apply braking pressure to the vehicle wheel brakes, upon the skid sensor sensing an impending skid condition, a signal is sent to said signal actuated valve to apply ambient atmospheric pressure to said second chamber to overcome the second biasing force and actuate said second servo means for blocking the application of hydraulic pressure from said hydraulic pressure source to said wheel brake actuating cylinder and subsequently overcome the greater third biasing force and actuate said first servo means for varying the volume of said first hydraulic chamber to prevent an increase of hydraulic pressure being applied to said wheel brake cylinder.

Claim 6

In an automotive wheel anti-skid mechanism for a hydraulically operated automotive wheel brake assembly having a hydraulic brake pressure source, at least one hydraulic brake actuating cylinder for a vehicle wheel, a conduit communicating said pressure source with said brake actuating cylinder, and a skid sensor for creating a signal in response to sensing an impending vehicle skid condition, said anti-skid mechanism including a pressure modulator means connected in said hydraulic conduit between said brake pressure source and said wheel brake actuating cylinder, said modulator means including a first hydraulic chamber in communication with said wheel brake actuating cylinder, and an intermediate hydraulic chamber in communication with said brake pressure source, a volume varying means slidably positioned in said first hydraulic chamber, a valve means located in said intermediate hydraulic chamber for blocking the flow of hydraulic fluid from said intermediate hydraulic chamber to said first hydraulic chamber, a first biasing means for biasing said valve means to its closed position, wherein the improvement comprises, a cover member sealingly attached to one end of said modulator means and defining a pneumatically sealed cavity therein, an outer diaphragm means and an inner diaphragm means defining a first and second chamber within said cavity, a rigid abutting means positioned against said outer and inner diaphragm means, said rigid abutting means operatively connected with said volume varying means, said inner diaphragm means operatively connected with said valve means, a second biasing means positioned between said rigid abutting means and said inner diaphragm means for applying a force to said inner diaphragm means for holding said valve means in an open position, a third biasing means positioned in said first chamber and applying a biasing force against said rigid abutting means, the biasing force of said third biasing means being greater than the biasing force of said second biasing means, said outer diaphragm means and said rigid abutting means in conjunction with said third biasing means forming a first pneumatically operated servo means, said inner diaphragm means and said second biasing means forming a second pneumatically operated servo means, a pneumatic vacuum source, means for communicating said vacuum sourCe with said first and second chambers, a signal actuated valve means controlled by said skid sensor and connected in said communication means between said vacuum source and said second chamber, said signal actuated valve means selectively applying vacuum to said second chamber when no signal is received from said skid sensor and applying ambient atmospheric pressure to said second chamber upon the receipt of a signal from said skid sensor, whereby, when said hydraulic pressure source is actuated to apply braking pressure to the vehicle wheel brakes, upon the skid sensor sensing an impending skid condition, a signal is sent to said signal actuated valve to apply ambient atmospheric pressure to said second chamber to overcome the second biasing force and actuate said second servo means for blocking the application of hydraulic pressure from said hydraulic pressure source to said wheel brake actuating cylinder and subsequently overcome the greater third biasing force and actuate said first servo means for varying the volume of said first hydraulic chamber to prevent an increase of hydraulic pressure being applied to said wheel brake cylinder.